title: Enhancement of fibroblast collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-1) gene expression by ceramide is mediated by extracellular signal-regulated and stress-activated protein kinase pathways.
abstract: Inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 trigger the ceramide signaling pathway, initiated by neutral sphingomyelinase-elicited hydrolysis of cell membrane phospholipid sphingomyelin to ceramide, a new lipid second messenger. Here, we show that triggering the ceramide pathway by sphingomyelinase or C2- and C6-ceramide enhances collagenase-1 (matrix metalloproteinase-1; MMP-1) gene expression by fibroblasts. C2-ceramide activates three distinct mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in dermal fibroblasts, i.e. extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), stress-activated protein kinase/Jun N-terminal-kinase (SAPK/JNK), and p38. Stimulation of MMP-1 promoter activity by C2-ceramide is dependent on the presence of a functional AP-1 cis-element and is entirely inhibited by overexpression of MAPK inhibitor, dual specificity phosphatase CL100 (MAPK phosphatase-1). Activation of MMP-1 promoter by C2-ceramide is also effectively inhibited by kinase-deficient forms of ERK1/2 kinase (MEK1/2) activator Raf-1, ERK1 and ERK2, SAPK/JNK activator SEK1, or SAPKbeta. In addition, ceramide-dependent induction of MMP-1 expression is potently prevented by PD 98059, a selective inhibitor of MEK1 activation, and by specific p38 inhibitor SB 203580. These results show that triggering the ceramide signaling pathway activates MMP-1 gene expression via three distinct MAPK pathways, i.e. ERK1/2, SAPK/JNK, and p38, and suggest that targeted modulation of the ceramide signaling pathway may offer a novel therapeutic approach for inhibiting collagenolytic activity, e.g. in inflammatory disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Turku University Central Hospital, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reunanen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Westermarck
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Häkkinen
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Holmström
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elo
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Eriksson
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Kähäri
mesh_terms: D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D002518:Ceramides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000494:pharmacology; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D007375:Interleukin-1; C064769:N-acetylsphingosine; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C101954:N-caproylsphingosine; D017871:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase; D017364:Collagenases; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; D013110:Sphingosine